Jack Barksdale

Jack Barksdale is a singer-songwriter, guitar player, folk and blues artist and a phenomenal talent who released his first single in 2017 at the age of 9. What makes him more than a novelty act or just another child prodigy is the level of  maturity in his songwriting, his sophisticated and nuanced guitar work, his expressive vocals, as well as the feel that he brings to his songs, all of which are top-notch regardless of age. Listening to an album like Live From Niles City (2019) and knowing that it was recorded by an 11-year-old artist solo on stage can be simultaneously awe-inspiring and humbling. His music has strong traditional roots and wears its Townes van Zandt influences on its sleeves. In addition to his musical prowess, his ability to empathize with sentiments and situations that he is unlikely to be as familiar with personally is also quite impressive.